1. April 5th 1860: Choe je-u founded Donghak
Cause: Due to Chosun's 26th king, Heon-Jeong ascended to the throne, there were many conflicts between Yangban (the nobles) and peasnats. They argued that men are not created by a supernatural god but men are instead by an innate god.
Effect: Thousands of members of Donghak cut their long hair and were encouraged to wear of simple, modest clothing. They were severely persecuted by the colonial Japanese government and they changed their name to Cheondogyo. (The teachings of Donghak created Cheondogyo).
2. 1843- 27th King, Ko-Jeong becomes king, Heung-sun Dae Won Gun starts to govern.
Cause: Death of Heon-Jeong and Ko-Jeong took over the throne. Since Ko-Jeong was 12 years old, Heung-sun Dae Won Gun "governed" instead. He took away the power of Ahndong-Kim and he welcomed everyone who was hurt. He finished the Land reform that resulted negative influence to the people. He made Yangban (nobles) to pay taxes.
Effect: Ahndong-Kim lost their power. He finished the Land reform that resulted negative influence to the people. He made Yangban (nobles) to pay taxes. However, he made everyone to pay taxes because they were rebuilding Kyeong Boek palace. Therefore, many people were having trouble paying the taxes. He made many reforms to strengthen the power of royal authority.
3. 1892- Donghak Peasant Revolution
Cause: Donghak started to gain power. More people joined the Donghak. Their power grew from the southern part of Korean and it started to spread. Japanese invation on Chosun's economy made people in Donghak to have an anti-Japanese sentiment. They strongly disagreed about foreign power in Korea. They started to have religious influence on people throughout the nation.
Effect: Donghak Peasant Revolution caused the Gabo Reform, which happened druring the reign of King Go-jeong. This Gabo Reform made Korea a sovereign country, meaning that it is completely independent from China's interfere). Also, only the King could control and rule the government and people with higher skills and talents were allowed to study without any social positions. Conscripted army was crated and jobs such as leather working, acting were no longer part of degrading works. It also caused the first Sino-Japanese War.
4. August 20th, 1895- Eulmi Incident
Cause: Empress Myung Sung strongly opposed and distracted Japanese from invading Chosun. Empress Myung Sung thought that Japanese Invasion was really crucial for Chosun Dynasty and therefore, she favored Russian powers instead.
Effect: Empress Myung Sung was assassinated by Miura Goro and his people. Miura Goro prepared for this assassination for a long time. They first were nice to the royal family so they can keep down the anti-Japanese sentiment. Then, when the royal family's wariness were low, they assassinated Empress Myung Sung. After the assassination of Myung Sung, it was easier for Japan to invade and control Chosun. King Gojeong was very depressed about this and anti-Japanese sentiment grew among the people.
5. Semptember 20, 1875- Ganghwa Island Incident (Unyo-ho sageon)
Cause:Japanese warship under the command of Inoue Yoshika came down to Korean territory without permission. 20 warships of Japanese came to Ganghwa Island.
Effect:Fighting between Koreans and Japanese happened and Japanese ended their attack withdrew back to Japan. Imperial Japanese Navy blockaded around Ganghwa Island and they demanded an official apology from the Chosun government. This caused the dispatch of the Kuroda mission, and signing the Treaty of Ganghwa.
6. February 27th, 1876- Treaty of Ganghwa
Cause:Since Japanese wanted to open trade with Chosun, they sent 20 ships to Ganghwa Island but, naval force of Chosun attacked. (Ganghwa incident). Japanese demanded to sign the Treaty of Ganghwa as the result of Ganghwa incident.
Effect:General of Chosun dynasty and Governor of Hokkaido and Shin Heon, and Kuroda Kiyotaka signed the treaty which opened Chosun to trade with Japan. Japanese used a gunboat diplomacy to pressure Chosun to sign this "unequal" treaty. It ended Chosun's protectorate of Qing dynasty, China. The treaty opened three ports of Chosun and granted Japan many rights such as extraterritoriality, capitulation and others.
7. 1897- Proclamation of The Greater Korean Empire
Cause: Sino-Japanese War influenced Chosun dynasty negatively and marked the rapid decline since the Sino-Japanese War was fought in Korean land. After the death of Empress myeongsung, King Gojeong escaped to Russian Embassy and soon, the Gabo Reform happened. Since King Gojeong and people wanted an independent association, he returned to Deoksugung.
Effect: Some people carried out the Gwangmu Reform and some people were more aware of western influence after observation of other countreis. American missionaries came to help Korean Empire to spread western cultures. Western medicine was established and missionaries also educated children.
8. August 22nd, 1904- The first Korea Japan Agreement
Cause: Sino-Japanese War. Japan's successful victories in the Sino- Japanese War between China grew the power of Japanese government. Therefore, it ended up in a situation where Japan was able to use their military to made The Great Korea Empire to forcefully agree with them.
Effect:It made The Great Korea Empire to have one Japanese person to play an official position in the government and everything relating to financial problems should be discussed with Japanese official. Korean government must have one person that Japanese empire assign as the head of diplomacy and discussed everything with that person. Korean government should not operate important policies or others without discussion with Japanese government. This proved that although The Great Korea Empire were independent, it was still under control of Japan.
9. November 17th, 1905- Eulsa Treaty
Cause:Japan's Victory in the Russo- Japanese War resulted the withdraw of Russian power in The Great Korean Empire. Victory in the Russo- Japanese War also prohibited United States to interfere Japan. The treaty was prepared by Ito Hirobumi.
Effect: King Gojeong sent secret emissaries to the Second International Hague Peace Convention to show the world about the unfairness of Eulsa Treaty. However, other countries refused to allow The Great Korea Empire to take part of this conference. Eulsa Euibyeong was created to protest, yangbans and peasants both joined the army. Many protests happened until the Japan's defeat in World War II.
10. Hague Secret Emissary Affair
Cause: Japan and Korea signing Eulsa Treaty, which was very unfair to The Great Korea Empire. Therefore, King Gojeong sends Yi Jun, Yi Sang-Seol and Yi Wi-Jong to the Second Hague Peace Convention to tell the world about invalidity of the Eulsa Treaty.
Effect: Great powers did not allow the emissaries to take part in the Second Peace Conference at the Hague, Netherlands. This made other countries to view The Great Korea Empire no longer an independent nation and they viewed Japan as representing The Great Korea Empire. Yi Jun, one of the emissaries, eventually committed suicide.
11. October 26th, 1909- Assassination of Ito Hirobumi by Ahn Jung-geun
Cause: Ito Hirobumi, the Prime Minister of Japan, prepared the Eulsa Treaty that Korea signed. This treaty granted Japan, annexation of Korea. Due to this, many people, including Ahn Jung-geun fought for invalidity of the treaty.
Effect: Ahn Jung-geun was sentenced to death in the Japanese court and on March 26th, he was executed. This made Japan be more strict on Korean people and grew tension between Korea and Japan.
12. March 1st, 1919- March 1st Movement
Cause: Japanese policies under their military admission repressed many Korean people. Also, President Woodrow Wilson of United States claimed about the "Fourteen Points" outlining the right of national "Self-determination" during the Paris Peace Conference in January.
Effect: It resulted major change in Japanese imperial policy. Japanese governor Hasegawa Yoshimichi took the responsibility for the loss of control and he resigned. Another man, Saito Makoto came in replace of Yoshimichi. Military policy was replaced by a civilian force and limited the freedom of press in Korea.
13. August 15th, 1945
Cause: After attacking the Pearl Harbor in Hawaii in the United States, President Henry Truman decided to attack Hiroshima and Nagasaki by using Atomic Bomb. Therefore, after dropping of bomb, Japanese government surrendered.
Effect: Korea gained an independence from Japanese government and South Korean government was created after three years on August 13, 1948. Although Korea gained an independence from Japan, it still was under control of United States and Soviet Union.
1. April 5th 1860: Choe je-u founded Donghak
Cause: Due to Chosun's 26th king, Heon-Jeong ascended to the throne, there were many conflicts between Yangban (the nobles) and peasnats. They argued that men are not created by a supernatural god but men are instead by an innate god.
Effect: Thousands of members of Donghak cut their long hair and were encouraged to wear of simple, modest clothing. They were severely persecuted by the colonial Japanese government and they changed their name to Cheondogyo. (The teachings of Donghak created Cheondogyo).
2. 1843- 27th King, Ko-Jeong becomes king, Heung-sun Dae Won Gun starts to govern.
Cause: Death of Heon-Jeong and Ko-Jeong took over the throne. Since Ko-Jeong was 12 years old, Heung-sun Dae Won Gun "governed" instead. He took away the power of Ahndong-Kim and he welcomed everyone who was hurt. He finished the Land reform that resulted negative influence to the people. He made Yangban (nobles) to pay taxes.
Effect: Ahndong-Kim lost their power. He finished the Land reform that resulted negative influence to the people. He made Yangban (nobles) to pay taxes. However, he made everyone to pay taxes because they were rebuilding Kyeong Boek palace. Therefore, many people were having trouble paying the taxes. He made many reforms to strengthen the power of royal authority.
3. 1892- Donghak Peasant Revolution
Cause: Donghak started to gain power. More people joined the Donghak. Their power grew from the southern part of Korean and it started to spread. Japanese invation on Chosun's economy made people in Donghak to have an anti-Japanese sentiment. They strongly disagreed about foreign power in Korea. They started to have religious influence on people throughout the nation.
Effect: Donghak Peasant Revolution caused the Gabo Reform, which happened druring the reign of King Go-jeong. This Gabo Reform made Korea a sovereign country, meaning that it is completely independent from China's interfere). Also, only the King could control and rule the government and people with higher skills and talents were allowed to study without any social positions. Conscripted army was crated and jobs such as leather working, acting were no longer part of degrading works. It also caused the first Sino-Japanese War.
4. August 20th, 1895- Eulmi Incident
Cause: Empress Myung Sung strongly opposed and distracted Japanese from invading Chosun. Empress Myung Sung thought that Japanese Invasion was really crucial for Chosun Dynasty and therefore, she favored Russian powers instead.
Effect: Empress Myung Sung was assassinated by Miura Goro and his people. Miura Goro prepared for this assassination for a long time. They first were nice to the royal family so they can keep down the anti-Japanese sentiment. Then, when the royal family's wariness were low, they assassinated Empress Myung Sung. After the assassination of Myung Sung, it was easier for Japan to invade and control Chosun. King Gojeong was very depressed about this and anti-Japanese sentiment grew among the people.
5. Semptember 20, 1875- Ganghwa Island Incident (Unyo-ho sageon)
Cause:Japanese warship under the command of Inoue Yoshika came down to Korean territory without permission. 20 warships of Japanese came to Ganghwa Island.
Effect:Fighting between Koreans and Japanese happened and Japanese ended their attack withdrew back to Japan. Imperial Japanese Navy blockaded around Ganghwa Island and they demanded an official apology from the Chosun government. This caused the dispatch of the Kuroda mission, and signing the Treaty of Ganghwa.
6. February 27th, 1876- Treaty of Ganghwa
Cause:Since Japanese wanted to open trade with Chosun, they sent 20 ships to Ganghwa Island but, naval force of Chosun attacked. (Ganghwa incident). Japanese demanded to sign the Treaty of Ganghwa as the result of Ganghwa incident.
Effect:General of Chosun dynasty and Governor of Hokkaido and Shin Heon, and Kuroda Kiyotaka signed the treaty which opened Chosun to trade with Japan. Japanese used a gunboat diplomacy to pressure Chosun to sign this "unequal" treaty. It ended Chosun's protectorate of Qing dynasty, China. The treaty opened three ports of Chosun and granted Japan many rights such as extraterritoriality, capitulation and others.
7. 1897- Proclamation of The Greater Korean Empire
Cause: Sino-Japanese War influenced Chosun dynasty negatively and marked the rapid decline since the Sino-Japanese War was fought in Korean land. After the death of Empress myeongsung, King Gojeong escaped to Russian Embassy and soon, the Gabo Reform happened. Since King Gojeong and people wanted an independent association, he returned to Deoksugung.
Effect: Some people carried out the Gwangmu Reform and some people were more aware of western influence after observation of other countreis. American missionaries came to help Korean Empire to spread western cultures. Western medicine was established and missionaries also educated children.
8. August 22nd, 1904- The first Korea Japan Agreement
Cause: Sino-Japanese War. Japan's successful victories in the Sino- Japanese War between China grew the power of Japanese government. Therefore, it ended up in a situation where Japan was able to use their military to made The Great Korea Empire to forcefully agree with them.
Effect:It made The Great Korea Empire to have one Japanese person to play an official position in the government and everything relating to financial problems should be discussed with Japanese official. Korean government must have one person that Japanese empire assign as the head of diplomacy and discussed everything with that person. Korean government should not operate important policies or others without discussion with Japanese government. This proved that although The Great Korea Empire were independent, it was still under control of Japan.
9. November 17th, 1905- Eulsa Treaty
Cause:Japan's Victory in the Russo- Japanese War resulted the withdraw of Russian power in The Great Korean Empire. Victory in the Russo- Japanese War also prohibited United States to interfere Japan. The treaty was prepared by Ito Hirobumi.
Effect: King Gojeong sent secret emissaries to the Second International Hague Peace Convention to show the world about the unfairness of Eulsa Treaty. However, other countries refused to allow The Great Korea Empire to take part of this conference. Eulsa Euibyeong was created to protest, yangbans and peasants both joined the army. Many protests happened until the Japan's defeat in World War II.
10. Hague Secret Emissary Affair
Cause: Japan and Korea signing Eulsa Treaty, which was very unfair to The Great Korea Empire. Therefore, King Gojeong sends Yi Jun, Yi Sang-Seol and Yi Wi-Jong to the Second Hague Peace Convention to tell the world about invalidity of the Eulsa Treaty.
Effect: Great powers did not allow the emissaries to take part in the Second Peace Conference at the Hague, Netherlands. This made other countries to view The Great Korea Empire no longer an independent nation and they viewed Japan as representing The Great Korea Empire. Yi Jun, one of the emissaries, eventually committed suicide.
11. October 26th, 1909- Assassination of Ito Hirobumi by Ahn Jung-geun
Cause: Ito Hirobumi, the Prime Minister of Japan, prepared the Eulsa Treaty that Korea signed. This treaty granted Japan, annexation of Korea. Due to this, many people, including Ahn Jung-geun fought for invalidity of the treaty.
Effect: Ahn Jung-geun was sentenced to death in the Japanese court and on March 26th, he was executed. This made Japan be more strict on Korean people and grew tension between Korea and Japan.
12. March 1st, 1919- March 1st Movement
Cause: Japanese policies under their military admission repressed many Korean people. Also, President Woodrow Wilson of United States claimed about the "Fourteen Points" outlining the right of national "Self-determination" during the Paris Peace Conference in January.
Effect: It resulted major change in Japanese imperial policy. Japanese governor Hasegawa Yoshimichi took the responsibility for the loss of control and he resigned. Another man, Saito Makoto came in replace of Yoshimichi. Military policy was replaced by a civilian force and limited the freedom of press in Korea.
13. August 15th, 1945
Cause: After attacking the Pearl Harbor in Hawaii in the United States, President Henry Truman decided to attack Hiroshima and Nagasaki by using Atomic Bomb. Therefore, after dropping of bomb, Japanese government surrendered.
Effect: Korea gained an independence from Japanese government and South Korean government was created after three years on August 13, 1948. Although Korea gained an independence from Japan, it still was under control of United States and Soviet Union.
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